The new retirement: Housing

You've probably already thought about stairs.

If you plan on remaining in your home as long as possible — and most Americans do, according to the AARP — you've probably considered the possibility that someday you'll have trouble climbing stairs. So when remodeling or choosing a new home, you may look for a first-floor laundry room and bathroom to make your future life easier and potentially safer.

But have you thought about the shower? About the furniture? About lighting? About the grab bars you may not need yet, but may want to install someday? About throw rugs?

Those are among the factors Minneapolis-based interior designer Mary Dworsky reminds people to consider when designing or choosing a home in which they can live comfortably into old age.

In addition to the typical designer focus on style and convenience improvements, Dworksy recommends features to accommodate aging in place ("Creating beautiful interiors for the way you live today and tomorrow" is the way she describes her business, at www.marydworskyid.com).

"I'm now 65, so I'm a prime candidate for this myself," Dworsky said. "Most of my clients are my age or older."

Among them are Ronnie Greenberg and her husband Larry, 88 and 87 respectively, who are in the process of moving from their St. Louis Park home of 60 years into a Golden Valley apartment. They deliberately chose a place that's well designed for older people, with wide doorways, a stall shower, underground parking to eliminate snow-shoveling hassles.

Here are more of Dworsky's tips:

Entryway. Provide plenty of light, both inside and outside, with easily accessible switches. Place a ledge, shelf or chair, again both inside and outside, to set items on. A chair inside also helps with shoe and boot removal. Use slip-resistant flooring or rugs.

Living Room. "Lighting is critical," Dworsky said. "We need three times more light in our 60s to see what we saw in our 20s. In our 80s, we need five times as much."

Cover windows with sheer materials to cut glare while maximizing outdoor light. Supplement with table and floor lamps, recessed ceiling lights, sconces, mirrors to reflect existing light. Opt for brighter colors; pastels can look washed out to aging eyes, Dworsky said.

Choose furniture that's easy to get up and out of, such as chairs with sturdy arms. Leave space to move comfortably between furniture pieces.

Vary counter heights to accommodate standing and sitting. Avoid bar-stool seating, which can be too high for those with physical limitations. If your kitchen has a center island, consider adding a shelf with table-height seating.

Bathroom. Grab bars needn't look like those in hospitals, Dworsky said; they now come in sturdy but stylish designs. If you're working on your bathroom but don't need grab bars installed, plan ahead by reinforcing the walls where they would go. "I ask my clients, 'Where would you need a grab bar?' That's where we'll put it," she said.

Consider a "comfort height" toilet or wall-hung toilet (the latter requires in-wall plumbing). Choose a no-threshold or low-threshold shower with a door that's at least 36 inches wide; special brackets let the door open all the way to widen the space.

"You want some sort of seating in the shower, whether it's removable or flip-down," Dworsky said. "And always a hand-held shower, in case you're ever not able to stand up."

General. Single-handle faucets and lever-style door handles are easier to manipulate.

Keep floor coverings flat and carpet-heights low. Falls are a major source of at-home injuries among older people. Minimize tripping hazards by allowing no more than half an inch difference in floor-covering heights.

"Edit and get rid of clutter," Dworsky advised. "Give it to your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, your church or synagogue. Donate it — it makes you feel better."